Sheet edge aligning apparatus

ABSTRACT

An improved mechanism for aligning sheet edges in a sheet winding, turning and aligning apparatus of the type wherein boards or sheets comprising a load in the apparatus are, subsequent to initial operations such as ink pack breaking and the like, tilted by the apparatus to dispose the bottom and side edges at an angle from the horizontal and vertical planes and the bottom and side edges of the sheets are then vibrated and aerated when so tilted to align the sheet edges.

United States. Patent [191 Atwood et al.

[ 1 June 11, 1974 SHEET EDGE ALIGNING APPARATUS [75] Inventors: Lamar T. Atwood, Cumberland Center; Joseph E. Radomski, Saco; David E. Wilson, Cumberland Center, all of Maine [73] Assignee: Southworth Machine Company,

Portland, Maine [22] Filed: June 8, 1973 21 App1.No.:-368,373

[52] 11.5. C1 34/150, 34/38, 74/61, 310/81 [51] Int. Cl. F26b 13/00 [58] Field of Search 310/81; 74/61; 34/150, 34/38 [56] References Cited,

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,140,970 Reedy 74/61 3,407,670 10/1968 Venanzetti 74/61 3,656,743 4/1972 Ruud 34/150 3,724,089 4/1973 Thompson et a1, 34/38 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Larry l. Schwartz [5 7] ABSTRACT An improved mechanism for aligning sheet edges in a sheet winding, turning and aligning apparatus of the type wherein boards or sheets comprising a load in the apparatus are, subsequent to initial operations such as ink pack breaking and the like, tilted by the apparatus to dispose the bottom and side edges at an angle from the horizontal and vertical planes and the bottom and side edges of the sheets are then vibrated and aerated when so tilted to align the sheet edges.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures SHEET EDGE ALIGNING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Sheet winding, turning and aligning methods and apparatus for printed paperboard sheets and the like are known and such apparatus and methods are disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,724,089, assigned to a common assignce herewith.

The heretofore known winding, turning and aligning method and apparatus as, for example, shown in the aforementioned patent, have included apparatus for rotating a stack of horizontal sheets to a vertical positionment with a subsequent winding or aeration of the sheets while the sheets are on edges thereof. Additionally, it is there shown the rotation of the stack of horizontal sheets, while confinedly supported, through an angle greater than 90 and projecting the boards or sheets against a curved surface to implement breaking any ink pack which may be in a-load and to provide enhanced necessary column strength to the sheets, especially larger sheets. Additionally, as shown, the sheets are further tilted when returned to the vertical plane in a third dimension with subsequent winding or blowing and a jogging or vibrating action in conjunction with gravity to align the sheet edges into desired squareness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improvement in the mechanism for aligning the sheet edges when the sheets have been tilted, subsequent to initial operations, to dispose the bottom and side edges at an angle from the horizontal and vertical planes, the alignment being obtained by subjecting the bottom and side edges of the sheets to a vibrating action together with aeration when so tilted. The present invention is directed to an improved mechanism for this vibration and aeration when so tilted to align the sheet edges.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the improved jogging or vibrating and aerating mechanism; and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism of FIG. 1.

The drawings anddescription in the present application are limited to the improvements over the apparatus shown in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,724,089 to which reference is made for additional details of the overall structure. In essence, however, the apparatus of the present invention is concerned with the vibrator and aeration mechanism which travels or moves across and under the edges of sheets which are disposed in a vertical plane with the edges being tilted about a longitudinal axis such that the edges are inclined with respect to a horizontal plane. A flat bar contacts the edges of the sheets in a manner to vibrate a narrow band of the sheets in the so arranged pile, and by raising this band slightly above the other sheet edges while at the same time air is being blown through the aerating or winding nozzles and sheet edge alignment is thereby accomplished. The remainder of the pile, by virtue of the small band affected,'is not disturbed and no vibration forces of any significance are transmitted to the structural members of the machine. The resultant action tends to force or float the sheets into a downward corner between the base and side of the turntable assembly and greatly enhances the edge aligning feature.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings, the vibrating and aerating mechanism includes, as an overall unit generally designated 10 and which is adapted to traverse the machine under the sheet edges as above described by support means generally indicated at 12 in the nature of rollers. or the like and adaptedfor transverse or translating movement by any suitable mechanism 14 which as shown can consist of a chain and sprocket combination l6, 18 or any other suitable mechanism.

The overall unit 10 includes a header 20 appropriately connected to the source of air under pressure as shown and described in the aforementioned patent and from which extends anaerating nozzle 22 which is operatively mounted and connected to the header by means of base fitting 24 or the like. A plurality of upright posts are also suitably. mounted with respect to header 20 for movement therewith, the posts being designated 26. A horizontal flat bar 28 is mounted on the inner posts 26 with ends 30 thereof extending beyond the posts and to which are secured angle irons 32 and 34 by means of nuts and bolts generally designated 36. It will be noted that angle iron 32 is vertical and has a flat bar 38 mounted on the upper end thereof and disposed at an angle to the vertical. The angle iron34 is disposed at an angle to the vertical and likewise has an angularly disposed flat bar 40 thereon.

A first vibrator unit 42 having a base plate 44 is secured to bar 38 by means of a bolt, screw or the like 46. Legs or posts '48 and 50 extend from base=plate 44. A

vibrator bar generally designated 52 is resiliently' mounted by means of posts 54 and coil springs 56 on the posts 26 with the under side thereof being engaged with the ends of posts or legs 48, 50. The vibrator bar 52 is adapted for engagement with the under side edges of the sheets and during movement will contact and vibrate a narrow band of the sheets upon actuation. A suitable vibrating unit can consist of, for example, a Vibco VM 200 vibrator. The vibrator 42, as shown by arrow 58, rotates clockwise. Obviously, different types of vibrators can be used. The resilient mounting of vibrator bar 52 by means of the springs has been found to be highly efficient and not subject to failure during extended operation.

A similar vibrating mechanism generally designated 60 is mounted on flat bar 40 including a similar second vibrator unit 62 and associated mechanism including a vibrator bar 64 similarly mounted and operable in the same manner. As shown by arrow 66, this vibrator unit rotates counterclockwise.

The angular disposition of the legs or posts creates forces of vibration on the vibrator bars 52 and 64 at angles from the horizontal which, in conjunction with the tilted disposition of the sheets, has been found extremely effective in conjunction with air blown through the aerating or winding nozzles to force or float the sheets into the downward corner between the base and the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for sheet winding, turning and aligning, of the type wherein sheets comprising a load are supported and tilted to dispose and support the bottom and side edges of the sheets at angles from the horizontal and vertical planes respectively, an improved sheet edge aligncr comprising:

A. a combination vibrator and aerator unit adapted to travel under and contact the sheet edges for sequential lifting and aeration thereof. including:

i. an air header;

ii. posts mounted on said header;

iii. rods operatively movably mounted at one end thereof on said posts;

iv. a vibrator bar mounted on the other end of said rods and contactable with the bottoms of said sheet edges;

v. resilient springs mounted between said posts and said vibrator bar and around said rods;

vi. a vibrator mounted on a said post and operatively contacting the bottom of said vibrator bar;

therefor. t

2. In apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including tw vibrator and aerator units mounted in spaced relationship, a vibrator and vibrator bar for each vibrator unit adapted for contacting said sheet edges at spaced 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vi brator units consist of rotary electric vibrators with the respective vibrators rotating in opposite direction and toward one another.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and an air nozzle mounted and operatively interconnected on and to said header intermediate said vibrator units.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said vibrator bar is resiliently supported by two resilient springs mounted on spaced rods in said posts at opposite ends of said vibrator bar.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said resilient springs consisting of coil springs. 

1. In apparatus for sheet winding, turning and aligning, of the type wherein sheets comprising a load are supported and tilted to dispose and support the bottom and side edges of the sheets at angles from the horizontal and vertical planes respectively, an improved sheet edge aligner comprising: A. a combination vibrator and aerator unit adapted to travel under and contact the sheet edges for sequential lifting and aeration thereof, including: i. an air header; ii. posts mounted on said header; iii. rods operatively movably mounted at one end thereof on said posts; iv. a vibrator bar mounted on the other end of said rods and contactable with the bottoms of said sheet edges; v. resilient springs mounted between said posts and said vibrator bar and around said rods; vi. a vibrator mounted on a said post and operatively contacting the bottom of said vibrator bar; vii. said vibrator upon actuation, in conjunction with said springs, imparting a resilient vibrating and jogging action to the bottom sheet edges through said vibrator bar for urging side sheet edges into oriented alignment with the support therefor.
 2. In apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including two vibrator and aerator units mounted in spaced relationship, a vibrator and vibrator bar for each vibrator unit adapted for contacting said sheet edges at spaced points thereof to resiliently impart vibrating and jogging actions to spaced positions on the bottom sheet edges.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, said vibrator having a base plate mounted on a said past at an angle to the horizontal, legs attached to said base plate and extending therefrom into contact with said vibrator bar, said vibrator upon actuation imparting a resilient angularly offset vibrating force to said vibrator bar and thereby to said bottom sheet edges.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said vibrator units consist of rotary electric vibrators with the respective vibrators rotating in opposite direction and toward one another.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, and an air nozzle mounted and operatively interconnected on and to said header intermediate said vibrator units.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said vibrator bar is resiliently supported by two resilient springs mounted on spaced rods in said posts at opposite ends of said vibrator bar.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, said resilient springs consisting of coil springs. 